Dustin J. Flanagan

Frizzled7 Functions as a Wnt Receptor in Intestinal Epithelial Lgr5+ Stem Cells

Summary The mammalian adult small intestinal epithelium is a rapidly self-renewing tissue that is maintained by a pool of cycling stem cells intermingled with Paneth cells at the base of crypts. These crypt base stem cells exclusively express Lgr5 and require Wnt3 or, in its absence, Wnt2b. However, the Frizzled (Fzd) receptor that transmits these Wnt signals is unknown. We determined the expression profile of Fzd receptors in Lgr5+ stem cells, their immediate daughter cells, and Paneth cells. Here we show Fzd7 is enriched in Lgr5+ stem cells and binds Wnt3 and Wnt2b. Conditional deletion of the Fzd7 gene in adult intestinal epithelium leads to stem cell loss in vivo and organoid death in vitro. Crypts of conventional Fzd7 knockout mice show decreased basal Wnt signaling and impaired capacity to regenerate the epithelium following deleterious insult. These observations indicate that Fzd7 is required for robust Wnt-dependent processes in Lgr5+ intestinal stem cells.

PHLDA1 expression marks the putative epithelial stem cells and contributes to intestinal tumorigenesis.

Studies employing mouse models have identified crypt base and position +4 cells as strong candidates for intestinal epithelial stem cells. Equivalent cell populations are thought to exist in the human intestine; however robust and specific protein markers are lacking. Here, we show that in the human small and large intestine, PHLDA1 is expressed in discrete crypt base and some position +4 cells. In small adenomas, PHLDA1 was expressed in a subset of undifferentiated and predominantly Ki-67-negative neoplastic cells, suggesting that a basic hierarchy of differentiation is retained in early tumorigenesis. In large adenomas, carcinomas, and metastases PHLDA1 expression became widespread, with increased expression and nuclear localization at invasive margins. siRNA-mediated suppression of PHLDA1 in colon cancer cells inhibited migration and anchorage-independent growth in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. The integrins ITGA2 and ITGA6 were downregulated in response to PHLDA1 suppression, and accordingly cell adhesion to laminin and collagen was significantly reduced. We conclude that PHLDA1 is a putative epithelial stem cell marker in the human small and large intestine and contributes to migration and proliferation in colon cancer cells.

Partial inhibition of gp130-Jak-Stat3 signaling prevents Wnt-β-catenin-mediated intestinal tumor growth and regeneration.

Partial suppression of the inflammatory gp130-Jak-Stat pathway inhibits intestinal tumor growth. A Novel Strategy for Treating Colon Cancer In most patients, colon cancer arises from a mutation in the gene encoding APC, which results in constitutive activation of the β-catenin pathway. Inhibition of this pathway interferes with the continuous renewal of the epithelial cells that line the intestinal tract and therefore may confer only limited therapeutic benefit. Phesse et al. discovered that the signaling pathway involving the receptor gp130, the associated Jak kinases, and the transcription factor Stat3 enhanced the growth of intestinal tumors in mice. Conversely, genetic or pharmacological inhibition of this pathway reduced tumor growth by increasing the expression of genes encoding the p21 and p16 proteins that halt cell division, through a cell-intrinsic mechanism. Thus, drugs targeting the Jak-Stat3 pathway, which are currently in clinical trials for the treatment of hematological malignancies, may also be useful for treating colon cancer. Most colon cancers arise from somatic mutations in the tumor suppressor gene APC (adenomatous polyposis coli), and these mutations cause constitutive activation of the Wnt–to–β-catenin pathway in the intestinal epithelium. Because Wnt–β-catenin signaling is required for homeostasis and regeneration of the adult intestinal epithelium, therapeutic targeting of this pathway is challenging. We found that genetic activation of the cytokine-stimulated pathway mediated by the receptor gp130, the associated Jak (Janus kinase) kinases, and the transcription factor Stat3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) was required for intestinal regeneration in response to irradiation-induced damage in wild-type mice and for tumorigenesis in Apc-mutant mice. Systemic pharmacological or partial genetic inhibition of gp130-Jak-Stat3 signaling suppressed intestinal regeneration, the growth of tumors in Apc-mutant mice, and the growth of colon cancer xenografts. The growth of Apc-mutant tumors depended on gp130-Jak-Stat3 signaling for induction of the polycomb repressor Bmi-1, and the associated repression of genes encoding the cell cycle inhibitors p16 and p21. However, suppression of gp130-Jak-Stat3 signaling did not affect Wnt–β-catenin signaling or homeostasis in the intestine. Thus, these data not only suggest a molecular mechanism for how the gp130-Jak-Stat3 pathway can promote cancer but also provide a rationale for therapeutic inhibition of Jak in colon cancer.

The core planar cell polarity gene prickle interacts with flamingo to promote sensory axon advance in the Drosophila embryo

The atypical cadherin Drosophila protein Flamingo and its vertebrate homologues play widespread roles in the regulation of both dendrite and axon growth. However, little is understood about the molecular mechanisms that underpin these functions. Whereas flamingo interacts with a well-defined group of genes in regulating planar cell polarity, previous studies have uncovered little evidence that the other core planar cell polarity genes are involved in regulation of neurite growth. We present data in this study showing that the planar cell polarity gene prickle interacts with flamingo in regulating sensory axon advance at a key choice point - the transition between the peripheral nervous system and the central nervous system. The cytoplasmic tail of the Flamingo protein is not required for this interaction. Overexpression of another core planar cell polarity gene dishevelled produces a similar phenotype to prickle mutants, suggesting that this gene may also play a role in regulation of sensory axon advance.

Frizzled7: A Promising Achilles' Heel for Targeting the Wnt Receptor Complex to Treat Cancer.

Frizzled7 is arguably the most studied member of the Frizzled family, which are the cognate Wnt receptors. Frizzled7 is highly conserved through evolution, from Hydra through to humans, and is expressed in diverse organisms, tissues and human disease contexts. Frizzled receptors can homo- or hetero-polymerise and associate with several co-receptors to transmit Wnt signalling. Notably, Frizzled7 can transmit signalling via multiple Wnt transduction pathways and bind to several different Wnt ligands, Frizzled receptors and co-receptors. These promiscuous binding and functional properties are thought to underlie the pivotal role Frizzled7 plays in embryonic developmental and stem cell function. Recent studies have identified that Frizzled7 is upregulated in diverse human cancers, and promotes proliferation, progression and invasion, and orchestrates cellular transitions that underscore cancer metastasis. Importantly, Frizzled7 is able to regulate Wnt signalling activity even in cancer cells which have mutations to down-stream signal transducers. In this review we discuss the various aspects of Frizzled7 signalling and function, and the implications these have for therapeutic targeting of Frizzled7 in cancer.

Intestinal epithelial-specific PTEN inactivation results in tumor formation

Phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) is a negative regulator of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling that is frequently inactivated in colorectal cancer through mutation, loss of heterozygosity, or epigenetic mechanisms. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of intestinal-specific PTEN inactivation on intestinal epithelial homeostasis and tumorigenesis. PTEN was deleted specifically in the intestinal epithelium, by crossing PTEN(Lox/Lox) mice with villin(Cre) mice. PTEN was robustly expressed in the intestinal epithelium and maximally in the differentiated cell compartment. Targeted inactivation of PTEN in the intestinal epithelium of PTEN(Lox/Lox)/villin(Cre) mice was confirmed by genotyping, immunohistochemistry, and qPCR. While intestinal-specific PTEN deletion did not have a major effect on cell fate determination or proliferation in the small intestine, it did increase phosphorylated (p) protein kinase B (AKT) expression in the intestinal epithelium, and 19% of animals developed small intestinal adenomas and adenocarcinomas at 12 mo of age. These tumors demonstrated pAKT and nuclear β-catenin staining, indicating simultaneous activation of the PI3K/AKT and Wnt signaling pathways. These findings demonstrate that, while PTEN inactivation alone has a minimal effect on intestinal homeostasis, it can facilitate tumor promotion upon deregulation of β-catenin/TCF signaling, further establishing PTEN as a bona fide tumor suppressor gene in intestinal cancer.

Variable FZD7 expression in colorectal cancers indicates regulation by the tumour microenvironment

Recent evidence shows that a sub‐population of Wnt/β‐catenin target genes is specifically induced in different tissue contexts. FZD7 is a putative Wnt/β‐catenin target gene and although it is highly expressed in well‐differentiated colorectal cancer tumour cells, its expression is decreased in de‐differentiated tumour cells at the invasive front despite elevated Wnt/β‐catenin signalling in this area. This variable expression of FZD7 implicates additional regulation by the microenvironment; however, this has not been investigated. To begin to elucidate the role of extracellular matrix in regulating FZD7 expression, we generated a FZD7 promoter reporter and analysed FZD7 promoter activity in colorectal cancer cells grown on different matrices. We demonstrate that the FZD7 promoter is regulated by β‐catenin in colorectal cancer cells and observed decreased promoter activity in cells grown on fibronectin but not collagen I or collagen IV. Thus, expression of FZD7 in colorectal cancer may be regulated by fibronectin in the microenvironment. Developmental Dynamics 239:311–317, 2010.

Stomach-Specific Activation of Oncogenic KRAS and STAT3-Dependent Inflammation Cooperatively Promote Gastric Tumorigenesis in a Preclinical Model

About 5% to 10% of human gastric tumors harbor oncogenic mutations in the KRAS pathway, but their presence alone is often insufficient for inducing gastric tumorigenesis, suggesting a requirement for additional mutagenic events or microenvironmental stimuli, including inflammation. Assessing the contribution of such events in preclinical mouse models requires Cre recombinase-mediated conditional gene expression in stem or progenitor cells of normal and transformed gastric epithelium. We therefore constructed a bacterial artificial chromosome containing transgene (Tg), comprising the regulatory elements of the trefoil factor 1 (Tff1) gene and the tamoxifen-inducible Cre recombinase (CreERT2)-coding sequence. The resulting Tg(Tff1-CreERT2) mice were crossed with mice harboring conditional oncogenic mutations in Kras or Braf The administration of tamoxifen to the resulting adult Tg(Tff1-CreERT2);Kras(LSL-G12D/+) and Tg(Tff1-CreERT2);Braf(LSL-V600E/+) mice resulted in gastric metaplasia, inflammation, and adenoma development, characterized by excessive STAT3 activity. To assess the contribution of STAT3 to the spontaneously developing gastric adenomas in gp130(F/F) mice, which carry a knockin mutation in the Il6 signal transducer (Il6st), we generated Tg(Tff1-CreERT2);Stat3(fl/fl);gp130(F/F) mice that also harbor a conditional Stat3 knockout allele and found that tamoxifen administration conferred a significant reduction in their tumor burden. Conversely, excessive Kras activity in Tg(Tff1-CreERT2);Kras(LSL-G12D/+);gp130(F/F) mice promoted more extensive gastric inflammation, metaplastic transformation, and tumorigenesis than observed in Tg(Tff1-CreERT2);Kras(LSL-G12D/+) mice. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that advanced gastric tumorigenesis requires oncogenic KRAS or BRAF in concert with aberrant STAT3 activation in epithelial precursor cells of the glandular stomach, providing a new conditional model of gastric cancer in which to investigate candidate therapeutic targets and treatment strategies. Cancer Res; 76(8); 2277-87. ©2016 AACR.

Wnt is necessary for mesenchymal to epithelial transition in colorectal cancer cells

Background: Metastasis underlies most colorectal cancer mortality. Cancer cells spread through the body as single cells or small clusters of cells that have an invasive, mesenchymal, nonproliferative phenotype. At the secondary site, they revert to a proliferative “tumor constructing” epithelial phenotype to rebuild a tumor. We previously developed a unique in vitro three‐dimensional model, called LIM1863‐Mph, which faithfully recapitulates these reversible transitions that underpin colorectal cancer metastasis. Wnt signaling plays a key role in these transitions and is initiated by the coupling of extracellular Wnt to Frizzled (FZD). Using the LIM1863‐Mph model system we demonstrated that the Wnt receptor FZD7 is necessary for mesenchymal to epithelial transition (MET). Here we investigate the role of Wnt in MET. Results: Wnt secretion is dependent on palmitoylation by Porcupine (PORC). A PORC inhibitor (IWP2) that prevents Wnt secretion, blocked the epithelial transition of mesenchymal LIM1863‐Mph cells. Wnt gene array analysis identified several Wnts that are upregulated in epithelial compared with mesenchymal LIM1863‐Mph cells, suggesting these ligands in MET. Wnt2B was the most abundant differentially expressed Wnt gene. Indeed, recombinant Wnt2B could overcome the IWP2‐mediated block in epithelial transition of mesenchymal LIM1863‐Mph cells. Conclusions: Wnt2B co‐operates with Frizzled7 to mediate MET in colorectal cancer. Developmental Dynamics 247:521–530, 2018.

Loss of the Wnt receptor frizzled 7 in the mouse gastric epithelium is deleterious and triggers rapid repopulation in vivo

ABSTRACT The gastric epithelium consists of tubular glandular units, each containing several differentiated cell types, and populations of stem cells, which enable the stomach to secrete the acid, mucus and various digestive enzymes required for its function. Very little is known about which cell signalling pathways are required for homeostasis of the gastric epithelium. Many diseases, such as cancer, arise as a result of deregulation of signalling pathways that regulate homeostasis of the diseased organ. Therefore, it is important to understand the biology of how normal conditions are maintained in a tissue to help inform the mechanisms driving disease in that same tissue, and to identify potential points of therapeutic intervention. Wnt signalling regulates several cell functions, including proliferation, differentiation and migration, and plays a crucial role during homeostasis of several tissues, including the intestinal epithelium. Wnt3a is required in the culture medium of gastric organoids, suggesting it is also important for the homeostasis of the gastric epithelium, but this has not been investigated in vivo. Here, we show that the Wnt receptor frizzled 7 (Fzd7), which is required for the homeostasis of the intestine, is expressed in the gastric epithelium and is required for gastric organoid growth. Gastric-specific loss of Fzd7 in the adult gastric epithelium of mice is deleterious and triggers rapid epithelial repopulation, which we believe is the first observation of this novel function for this tissue. Taken together, these data provide functional evidence of a crucial role for Wnt signalling, via the Fzd7 receptor, during homeostasis of the gastric epithelium. Editors’ choice: Wnt signalling regulates homeostasis of the gastric epithelium via the Fzd7 receptor, which could be a target for therapeutic intervention in gastric cancer.